Shirley Hyman – Hickman

The Last Sightings of Shirley Heyman Hickman: A 1981 Philadelphia Cold Case Plea

On August 28, 1981, Shirley Heyman Hickman stepped out of Park Avenue Cafe Bar in Philadelphia. She was crying and upset. Witnesses saw her climb into a blue van with two strange men. Friends and family had left the bar earlier. Police questioned the men later. Both said they dropped her off safe. But Shirley vanished that night. No one saw her again. Her family still hunts for answers in this cold case.

Shirley Hickman: Portrait of a Life Interrupted

Shirley lived a full life before that night. She was loving and full of energy. Her daughter remembers her as spunky and outgoing. Shirley loved her family most of all.

A Loving Mother and Family Woman

Shirley raised three girls with care. She enjoyed dancing and dressing up nice. Bowling and pool were her games. She sang in the church choir too. Family came first for her. She made everyone feel welcome.

Her little girl often trailed her. At four or five, the child worried. “The bad man gonna take her,” she’d say. Dad had to pick her up from police once. Shirley was that all-American mom. Everyone loved her spark.

The Final Days: Tension and Foreboding

Things got tough before August 28. Shirley split from her husband. The family stayed at her best friend’s house. It had four bedrooms back home. Why crash elsewhere? She cried packing her daughter’s bag.

The girl turned 12 on the 27th. Mom planned a party. Then she sent her to auntie’s. “I’m okay,” Shirley said through tears. She talked about calling dad for money. A strange warning came next. “Tell friends the truth if their boyfriend hits on you.”

The daughter wondered. Was it aunt’s husband? No names given. Mom stopped crying. Said she’d meet dad, play pool with uncle. Call when you arrive, she told the girl. That was the last talk.

Critical Age and Timeline Details

Shirley was 31 years old. Born March 23, 1950. Some sites say 1951 or give the wrong height. She stood 5 feet 1 inch. Her daughter was already taller at 5’2″. These facts matter for searches. Wrong info wastes time.

She wore shorts when daughter left. Later outfit: white sweater, blue jeans, slip-on sandals. A wreath-like ring and sunglasses too. Bartender confirmed that look.

The Immediate Aftermath and Questionable Police Response

Days passed with no word. Family called around. No cell phones back then. Just landlines and visits. Panic set in slow.

Last Known Location and Witnesses

Park Avenue Cafe Bar sat in the neighborhood. Not huge, but roomy. Bar in middle, pool tables back. Cubby seats up front, kitchen side. Shirley knew it well. Played pool there often.

Bartender knew her too. Lived across street. Kids went to same school. Saw Shirley talk to two men. She cried hard. They led her out back door. Blue van waited. No front window. Door propped open for street view.

Why no help? Police station right across. No one ran over. These men weren’t regulars. Friends gone by then.

Family Efforts and Confusion

Daughter stayed at aunt’s. Assumed mom would call. Clothes at aunt’s house confused her. Shorts in hamper. Bar outfit gone from bed. Did she change?

Aunt Sandra called family. Stepdad saw her Friday night. Left her and uncle at bar. Uncle’s neighborhood too. He wouldn’t let sister leave crying with strangers.

Grandma called on 31st. Come home now. No reason given. Family searched houses. No trace.

The Estranged Husband and Uncle’s Presence

Stepdad dropped birthday cash. Uncle played pool with her. Both left early. Bar felt safe. It happened before. But not this time.

Developing Leads: The Blue Van and Uncooperative Subjects

Years later, clues surfaced. Private eyes helped. Names and spots linked to the van.

Interrogation of the Driver

Driver admitted the ride. Dropped them near 26th and Indiana. Passenger’s hood. Just a favor, he claimed. Police had notes too.

A Plea for Closure: Bringing Shirley Home

Police dropped ball. Files are gone. Detectives retired. 35th District shrugs. Calls ignored. Cold case unit exists. But no file found. Archives should hold notes. Family chases ghosts.

Conclusion: The Enduring Need for Justice and Remembrance

Shirley Heyman Hickman deserves rest. Not court wins after 45 years. Bring her home. Philly saw that blue van. Men got out. Someone knows.

Share this post. One click reaches the right ear. What if it was your mom? Act now. Call tips. End the wait. Shirley’s family thanks you.

Each week Synova highlights obscure cold cases on her blog as a victim’s advocate. She never charges for her services. If you’d like to help support Synova in this worthy cause please check out the affiliate links below. By purchasing one of her books or using these links, you will be supporting Synova’s work on cold cases and will ensure her ability to continue to give a voice to the victim’s family. Thank you.

SPONSORSHIPS: This case was brought to you by Bones Coffee Company and my book “SHATTERED: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life“

SHATTERED: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life

Behind every story I write is a life that’s shattered. These aren’t headlines. These are people. Those who try to twist headlines to generate more views are toying with someone’s trauma. I have raised awareness for 500 cases and helped generate leads for law enforcement. That’s my purpose and that’s what keeps me going.

This book has the top 40 cases that I’ve highlighted on my blog throughout the years. Please enjoy the book, but remember these are real people with real trauma.

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A Law, a Death, and a Missing Child: The Case of Hanna Brooke Fretwell

In April 2024, the state of Alabama passed new legislation that allows an individual to be charged with manslaughter if they sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance containing fentanyl or related substances that results in another person’s death. Often referred to as a drug-induced homicide law, this statute makes it easier for prosecutors to pursue serious charges against those who supply fatal drugs. Under Alabama Code §13A-6-3, the charge is a Class B felony, carrying a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

This law matters—because it sits at the center of a devastating case that left one woman dead and a six-month-old baby missing.

Who Was Hanna Brooke Fretwell?

On June 24, 2024, Hanna Fretwell’s body was discovered inside a mobile home after a fire broke out at 4200 Freedom Court, Phenix City, Alabama. She was a single mother to a six-month-old baby boy, Josiah James Reed.

A Troubled Cycle

Hanna’s upbringing was marked by instability. Her mother, Tracy Ann Fretwell, had a long history of involvement with drugs and prior arrests. Tragically, Hanna would later become entangled in the same drug circle she grew up around.

When Hanna became pregnant, she reportedly stayed clean throughout the pregnancy. After Josiah was born, however, Hanna relapsed. Whether sustained support could have changed her path is a question that will never have a clear answer—but it is one that haunts this case.

The Night Everything Went Wrong

According to investigators, Tracy Ann Fretwell stopped by the Freedom Court residence and supplied Hanna with drugs. Hanna later overdosed on methamphetamine, ingesting a fatal amount approximately three hours before the fire, which broke out around 5:30 a.m.

An autopsy later confirmed that Hanna died before the fire started. There was no smoke inhalation in her lungs, and her identity was confirmed through a tattoo. The Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the fire’s cause as undetermined, a finding that raised serious questions and concerns.

Where Is Baby Josiah?

Josiah had been inside the home earlier that night. Two other individuals were also present at the residence. What remains unknown is whether Tracy Ann Fretwell removed the baby from the home before the fire—or where he was taken.

As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and later sifted through the debris, they were unable to locate Josiah. After multiple searches, investigators confirmed that the baby was not inside the home when the fire occurred.

On June 24, 2024, Josiah was entered into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) database as a missing child.

Arrest and Charges

On October 10, 2024, at 9:45 p.m., Tracy Ann Fretwell was arrested and charged under Alabama Code §13A-6-3 with manslaughter, directly tied to the distribution of drugs that caused her daughter’s death. She remains in custody, and as of now, no trial date has been scheduled.

This case represents one of the most significant early applications of Alabama’s drug-induced homicide law.

Unanswered Questions

Someone knows what happened to Josiah James Reed.

Was he taken during a drug exchange?
Was he trafficked or illegally adopted?
Was he hidden by someone trying to avoid responsibility?

As court proceedings move forward, there is hope that critical information may finally be revealed—information that could bring answers, accountability, and possibly reunite this child with safety.

How You Can Help

If you have any information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Josiah James Reed, please contact 911 immediately.

One law changed how justice is pursued in Alabama.
One woman lost her life.
And one baby is still missing.

Someone holds the final piece of this puzzle.

**This story was submitted by fellow advocate, Donna. Thank you for sharing this story**

The TBI DID NOT say Buford was the prime suspect! They said in their press conference that there’s enough questions left in the story that he could possibly be indicted to stand before a grand jury and defend himself in court.

Go back and watch the press conference and listen to the words they say. They also said that he is innocent until proven guilty, but no one wants to hear that part of the conversation.

I hope the family sues all of these newspapers for slander. Don’t believe the headlines people. Do the research yourself!

BufordPusser #westandwithbuford #walkingtall

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Jim Jones started as a kid who hated being ignored. He craved the spotlight. Watch him preach to trees in the woods. That boy grew into a man who led 900 people to death in Jonestown. This is part two of our dive into cult leaders. We look at his early days in ministry. He mixed real fights against racism with fake tricks. Was he a hero or a con man? You decide as we uncover how he built his power.

Section 1: From Childhood Fascination to Ideological Shift

Early Manifestations of Control

Jones loved bossing kids around as a teen. He’d preach for hours. If they tried to leave, he locked them in a barn. One time, he shot a kid with a BB gun. Control was everything to him. His own son, Steven, later said Dad was a fake from day one. Steven knew but couldn’t escape.

The Embrace of Socialism and Anti-Racism

He ditched God for big ideas like socialism. Jones saw America as broken by unfairness. Communism promised a fix, he thought. A key moment came with his Black friend. Dad, a KKK member, banned the kid from their house. Jones refused to go in too. He cut ties with his racist father right there.

Pentecostal Influence and Manipulation Tactics

Churches pulled him in, but not faith. Pentecostal preachers fired up crowds. Jones copied that energy for control. He bounced between spots but picked what worked. Folks first called him a solid preacher who lost his way. Truth? Pure showman from the start.

Section 2: Entering the Ministry and Deceiving the Establishment

Winning Over Marceline and Her Family

At Reed Hospital in Richmond, he met Marceline Baldwin. She trained as a nurse, four years older. Jones talked big about helping folks and perfect worlds. She bought in. Her strict Methodist parents? Not so much. They never warmed to him. Her dad stayed cold.

Staged Healings and Con Artist Tactics in the Methodist Church

Jones joined as a student pastor to please his wife. Leaders spoke calm and proper. He burst in yelling like a revival star. Crowds ate it up. Elders saw the act. He slinked through people before services. Listened to chats about headaches or family fights. Then onstage, he’d “prophesy” it all.

The worst trick? Fake healings. He’d yell, “Someone here has cancer in their head!” Pull rotten chicken guts from his sleeve. “Cough it up—it’s gone!” People gasped. How’d they fall for it? He picked easy marks. Built trust fast.

Ostracization and Founding the People’s Temple

Church elders booted him. Too much race mixing. And those shady healings? Suspect. Only then did he tell Marceline the truth. No God for him. In 1955, they launched People’s Temple in Indianapolis. Open to all. Blacks came in droves. It bucked the times.

Section 3: Creating a False Utopia Through Social Action

The Appearance of Progressive Leadership

Jones adopted mixed kids to make a point. Native mixes. Korean ones. In 1961, first Black baby by white parents in Indiana. Named him Jim Jones Jr. Survivors question it. Show or love? His three sons who lived say maybe just for looks. Steven was their only blood kid, born 1959.

The Nuclear Panic and The Great Migration to California

Paranoia hit in 1961. He followed preacher William Branham’s nuke warning. Made it his “vision from God.” An Esquire piece listed safe spots. California topped it. He caravanned followers west in 1965. Promised safety in Redwood Valley. Only 140 stuck with him. An assistant pastor called him out. Stayed behind with most.

Building Power Through Community Outreach

In California, he fixed real hurts. Opened nursing homes for poor elders. Helped addicts quit. Gave jobs to outcasts. “Other churches shun you? We welcome all.” Numbers exploded. Think of cliquey spots that judge dresses or past sins. Jones flipped it. “Join us—we fix your life.” Smart hook for the lonely.

Section 4: Political Entrenchment and Spiritual Collapse

Weaponizing Political Connections

He chased power next. Bused in crowds for pols’ rallies. A thousand fans show up? Media buzz. Coached them on the ride: “Praise this guy!” Helped elect leaders. Got favors back. Rumors flew of voter tricks. Buses hit polls twice. Dead folks “voted” somehow. His pull scared critics off.

Rejecting Christianity and Claiming Divinity

Inside church, he trashed the Bible. One tape shows him chuck it across the room. “Strike me dead if you’re real!” Nothing. He mocked the “sky god.” Called himself divine. Outside? Kept quiet. Numbers mattered.

Inner Circle Control and Escalating Abuse

Drugs kicked in. Uppers to grind. Downers to crash. Paranoia grew. Formed the Planning Commission. Inner crew whipped doubters. Forced signed confessions: “I plot to kill the president.” Public shame if you balked. Sex rules twisted. Women to his bed “for good.” Couples banned from touch. Work 14 hours. Then hours of his rants. Question it? Threats. Hit squad whispers. Defectors died odd deaths. Pols looked away—10,000 votes!

Section 5: The Final Moves: Blackmail and Escape to Guyana

Manufacturing Blackmail and Silencing Dissent

He built dirt files. Set up pols with young girls. “She’s 16—your career’s done.” Made guys sign wild claims. One lawyer? “Gay, can’t hack it. I knocked up your wife.” Stole their kid that way. Rape tales hit men too. Had to break alphas. Total boss mode.

The Unraveling: The Stone Family Custody Case

Timothy and Grace Stoen quit. Fought for son John Victor, born 1972. Jones held a fake doc. Timothy “admitted” gay flop. Asked Jones to bed Grace. Court leaned their way. Jones fled first.

The Exodus and The Unseen Dangers

Mid-70s, Guyana jungle. Sent crews to hack land. Meant for 500, crammed 1,000. Guns, drugs, cyanide shipped early. Guyanese courts ruled for Stones. No cop dared enter. Kid stayed. Died there. Parents mourned forever.

Conclusion: The Confusing Legacy of A Masked Messiah

Jim Jones mixed good fights like racism busting with scams and iron fists. Social wins drew crowds. Fakes kept them hooked. He built People’s Temple on real pains. Then crushed souls inside. Cult bosses grab true gripes to reel you in. Watch for demands of blind loyalty. That’s the red flag. Good acts hide dark hearts. Stay sharp from subliminal pulls. Catch part three next. We hit Jonestown massacre and fallout. What warnings did we miss? Share your thoughts below. Subscribe for more on cult dangers.

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Today, we continue our deep dive into the life of Jim Jones and his disturbing march toward what would later become one of the most horrifying events in modern history — The Jonestown Massacre.

If you missed last week’s post about Jim’s unsettling childhood and early fascination with death and control, make sure to go back and read it first. This week, we find Jim Jones stepping into adulthood — already showing signs of the manipulative charisma that would define his dark legacy.

A Young Man with Big Dreams — and Bigger Secrets

As a teenager living in Richmond, Indiana, Jim Jones was bright, ambitious, and unsettlingly driven. He graduated high school six months early and began working as an orderly at Reid Hospital, where he met Marceline Baldwin, a kind and compassionate nurse four years his senior.

Marceline was drawn to Jim’s talk of equality and humanitarian ideals — qualities that seemed rare in the early 1950s. Against her parents’ better judgment, she married him as soon as he turned 18, believing she’d found a man of conviction and compassion.

A Ministry with a Hidden Agenda

Jim began preaching as a student minister in the Methodist Church Marceline attended. At first, his efforts seemed noble — he actively invited African Americans to join the congregation, a bold move in segregated Indiana. But the church elders weren’t pleased.

Then, Jim began mimicking the energetic, theatrical style of Pentecostal preachers, complete with claims of faith healing. He staged dramatic “healings” that mesmerized his congregation, though none of them were real. When his lies and defiance became too much, the Methodist Church expelled him.

Soon after, he told Marceline a shocking truth — he didn’t believe in God at all.

The Birth of the People’s Temple

Undeterred, Jones established his own church: The People’s Temple. He promised an integrated, inclusive congregation, preaching social reform, racial equality, and community service. To the public, it was a shining example of Christian love and progress.

Behind the curtain, however, a much darker truth was taking root. Jim Jones was building a network of control, blackmail, and psychological manipulation. His followers were encouraged to confess private details of their lives — confessions he would later use against them.

Money began pouring in through fraudulent donations, and those who questioned his authority faced intimidation, humiliation, or worse.

By the time Jones moved his empire to California, the People’s Temple had grown into a political and social force. Publicly, he ran soup kitchens, housing programs, and clinics — but privately, he orchestrated a kingdom built on deceit, coercion, and fear.

The Beginning of the End

Eventually, the cracks in Jones’s perfect image began to show. Former members and journalists started exposing the abuses within the Temple. As the investigations closed in, Jim Jones decided to do what he had always done best — run and reinvent.

In 1977, he fled with hundreds of followers to the jungles of Guyana, where he would build a new “utopia” he called Jonestown.

But paradise would not last.

👉 Next week, we’ll take you inside the People’s Temple’s final chapter — the isolated compound in Guyana, the descent into paranoia, and the tragic day that ended with over 900 lives lost in one of history’s most chilling mass deaths.

Stay tuned for Part 3: The Road to Jonestown.

Don’t Miss Tonight’s Episode on this Case: PREMIERES TONIGHT @7PM Central

Madman or Messiah? An Investigation into the Crimes & Charisma of Cult Leader Joseph D. Jeffers

From extreme fundamentalist ideologies to the paranormal and the occult, Joseph Jeffers’ message integrated with the times and incited a religious fervor amongst his followers. In the 1930s, he was causing war in Arkansas and inciting violence that would lead to the death of one man and the attempted murder of a local preacher. In the 1940s, he was making headlines in L.A. for his lewd house parties. In the ’50s, his third wife would be brutally murdered. Her homicide would go unsolved. In the ’60s, he would make headlines in Arizona when he gambled off all of the church funds at the race track. In the ’70s, he would prophesy great and mighty things to do with UFOs and the Bermuda triangle. By 1978, he would be building a pyramid to withstand the apocalypse in Missouri. And by 1988, he would die of old age. No one ever stopped this man from stealing millions of dollars, coercing innocent young women, or hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Read this book to find out more about the crimes, the chaos, and the injustice in the life of Dr. Joseph D. Jeffers.

How could this man have gotten away with all of these crimes, and how could he have flown under the radar? After making so many ludicrous headlines, how do we not know the name of Joseph Jeffers?

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